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Tutoring & Mentoring Opportunities

Each semester, Mount Holyoke College places more than 60 students as tutors/mentors in educational partnerships throughout the Pioneer Valley, primarily in South Hadley and Holyoke. By working in classrooms, after school programs, and adult/family education programs, our tutors/mentors hope to make positive impacts on student academic and social outcomes, and improve access to higher education through positive role modeling, mentoring, learning support.

What opportunities are available for tutors/mentors?

Mount Holyoke College students can participate as a tutor/mentor in three ways:

As a Volunteer: many MHC students choose to volunteer their time in after school programs to gain experience in working with children or simply to give back.

Through a CBL Course Placement: many courses enable students to serve as tutors as part of course credit. You can view the listings of CBL Courses here.

As a Work-Study Job (America Reads/America Counts): If you are a U.S. citizen and receive a federal work-study award as part of your financial aid package at Mount Holyoke, you are eligible to work as a tutor off-campus (first year students must adhere to dining service stipulations as outlined by Student Employment). If you aren't sure of your eligibility, we can check for you after you've filled out the application survey at the end of this page. America Reads/America Counts positions are available for in-school and after-school programs only to work with students in grades K-9.

What is required of tutors/mentors?

Attend preparatory trainings (such as a program orientation from your placement site, and either Holyoke Bound, which is held in September and February, or Springfield Bound held each September). America Reads/America Counts tutors must additionally attend a required orientation for that program.

Build positive and impactful relationships with youth by consistently attending their placement site, and by communicating with youth who are vulnerable and their staff/CBL supervisors about any changes to their schedules.

Attend 2-3 trainings throughout the semester designed to assist students with tutoring skills.

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Where Do Mount Holyoke students serve as tutors/mentors?

You can learn more about the programs in which Mount Holyoke students are placed here. You can also meet program staff at each semester's Community Service Fair, held in Blanchard 7-9pm on an evening during the second week of classes. Please check the CBL Calendar for more information.